Disabled Access Day 2017 – meet The Bimblers

Disabled Access Day was initiated in 2015 by Paul Ralph as a day to celebrate good access and create opportunities for people to try something new in an atmosphere of cooperation, safety and fun.

Paul wanted everyone to celebrate Disabled Access Day by highlighting the fantastic access that already existed, and encouraging people to experience new places.

Now in its third year Disabled Access Day is about #YouAndSomewhereNew and continues to highlight the accessibility of places with touch tours, relaxed performances, sensory experiences, and level access. However it’s not all about facilities, one of the most important factors is a warm welcome!

Last year we welcomed Canine Partners and the amazing assistance dog Rio who could help get people dressed, do the washing, fetch the phone and many more every day tasks to help his owner.

This year at Hoe Grange Holidays we were delighted to give a warm welcome to Rob and Bridget, otherwise known as The Bimblers. The Bimblers write an insightful travel and holiday blog for wheelchair users and people with mobility problems.

Rob and Bridget “bimble” around living life in the slow lane, and show how travel is possible, even with a disability.

We love their style and the way they share their experiences making life easy for others; their valuable advice on how to enjoy travel enables everyone to make the most of their holidays.

For the first time, Disabled Access Day was actually spread over 3 days, from 10th to 12th March, which meant there was more opportunity for everyone to join in. Disabled Access Day also aims to raise awareness of the importance of sharing disabled access information.

Not only were disabled people, their families and friends invited to visit new places and try new activities over the weekend, but they were encouraged to provide helpful feedback to participating venues about their accessibility by writing reviews on Euan’s Guide.

If you haven’t already discovered Euan’s Guide, it’s the disabled access review website & app, launched in 2013 by Euan MacDonald, himself a powerchair user. The website provides disabled access information for venues including attractions, cinemas, sports grounds, places to stay, and everyday places such as the post office and local services. It allows users to share their experiences and review disabled access at places they visit, and is a fantastic resource if you are thinking of going somewhere new, but want to know what it’s like.

If you have stayed with us and haven’t done so already why not write a review of our facilities on Euan’s Guide?